Travel tips and cultural insights for your next visit to Switzerland with kids

Swiss Family Camping - Les 3 Lacs Murten

With no plan except to escape the rain, we headed out one grey Saturday in search of a dry spot to pitch out tent for the weekend. The dry weather began around the lakeside town of Murten and so with Google as our guide we decided upon the campground Les 3 Lacs, not far from the city, as our home for the weekend. Here’s a review of what we found.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAMPGROUND AND THE BEST WAY TO GET THERE:

Camping Les 3 Lacs is campground along the Broyne Canal situated between the lakes of Murten and Lac de Neuchatel. We didn't choose this campground specifically, rather it chose us as we were trying to escape the bad weather in central Switzerland so we just kept driving until the rain stopped.

I was a little hesitant at first to stay at this campground, as it did seem that tourists were not given priority (more on that in a moment), but the indoor pool enticed the rest of the family so we decided to set up camp for one night. The eerily quiet campground (disclaimer: we did visit on a rainy weekend in September) set amongst farming land is located just 10 minutes from the city of Murten, not far off the A1 Motorway.

WHAT TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION ARE ON OFFER?

The campground's main focus is its seasonal residents who live in the beautifully kept mobile homes and bungalows, some of which are available for short term rent. There is a minimum 2 night stay in low season and 5 nights over the summer. However we stayed at the back of the property on one of the few short term camping plots, which had all the basics.

WHAT FACILITIES DOES THE CAMPSITE OFFER?

The facilities for the campers are not overly luxurious but were adequate - this is, however, not a place I would come and camp for longer than a night or two unless we stayed in one of the rental options.

As it was off-season, the small cafe was closed but the main restaurant was open. The little shop attached to the restaurant has wine and snacks but not much else. Make sure you pre-order your bread to avoid disappointment in the morning.

WHAT ACTIVITIES DOES THE CAMPSITE OFFER?

The highlight is the indoor pool but it was cool so we didn’t stay in long! The campground has a playground for the kids and a place to play Boules. This is not a campground for you if you are looking for activities to keep your kids entertained. The site offers bike rentals, as well, which would be a fabulous option for exploring the region.

BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER: WHAT ARE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS?

For breakfast we pre-ordered our bread at the restaurant and enjoyed it under the trees near the closed cafe. On arrival we enjoyed a light lunch of Croque Monsieur at the onsite restaurant but had dinner in an offsite pizzeria in Murten.

The local bakery is just a short drive away and on our way home we picked up the local speciality, Vully, a sort of focaccia like bread made either savoury or sweet.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO OUTSIDE THE CAMP GROUND?

The campground is set on a canal connecting two of the 3 lakes in the area and is connected by the local boats touring the area. We decided to skip the boat as the weather wasn't so nice and head by car into Murten to explore the bilingual Fortress town and have dinner. Exploring the area around the campground on bikes looks like a great alternative though.

ANY TIPS OF WHAT NOT TO FORGET?

Don't forget all the food you will need to eat as their onsite shop doesn't have anything substantial. Bring your bikes if you want to explore the area and don't forget a set of Boules!

BEST WAY TO BOOK?

We just turned up, but I assume in high season it would be best to book ahead directly.

WHAT SETS THIS CAMPING GROUND APART FROM THE REST?:

If you are looking for budget accommodation to explore the Murten area then this is good option,. BUT saying that, this is not a luxury campground if you are bringing your own tent or caravan - we wouldn’t return with out tent. Maybe it would have been different if we had stayed on a warm sunny day in high season or had of stayed in one of the immaculately kept bungalows. The pitches for tents and vans felt more like an afterthought.

WHAT TYPE OF CAMPER ARE YOU? :

We are a family 5 who are willing to try it all. From cabins to caravans, motor homes to roof top tents. All us adults need is a comfortable place to sleep and a clean bathroom to use. The dream is to own a pop top Camper but until then we enjoy either renting one, or enjoy other things that campsites have to offer.